Young People’s Blog

Warfare

Today, my wife and I took a cruise on the Leie River through the heart of the city of Ghent, in Belgium. As the guide gave us interesting information on different buildings and areas of the city and its history, I was struck by how many references there were to both political and religious wars. It seems that for centuries Europe was plagued with constant conflict of one sort or another.

This got me thinking about the warfare that the believer has on a daily basis. We don’t have physical battles, but we do have a very real spiritual warfare. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

We have a powerful enemy, Satan. However, we have a more powerful Lord, referred to many times as “The Lord of Hosts.” (The first time being 1 Samuel 1:3). He is also “the Captain of [our] salvation.” (Hebrews 2:10).

Yes, Satan is powerful, but our Lord is all-powerful!

Pleasing the Lord — Part 2

Joseph was a man of integrity and principles. As mentioned yesterday, as a young person he had a real desire to please the Lord, no matter what the cost or consequence. This continued throughout his whole life, as we see from the following references:

• Later on, in the prison, Joseph still had that desire and was used of the Lord, in spite of his hardship:

“The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it” (Genesis 39:21-22).

• Finally, as governor over all the land of Egypt, even though he was then in such a high position, his one aim was to please the Lord.

“And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46).

What a lesson this is for us! No matter what age or what happens, our desire should always be to please our Lord.

Pleasing the Lord — Part 1

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

All true believers, down deep in their hearts, want to please the Lord. Joseph is a wonderful example of a person who had a genuine desire to please the Lord during every period of his life.

• First of all, as a boy and teenager, in being obedient to his father, even though his brothers hated him and made it difficult for him.

“And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I” (Genesis 37:13).

• Then, as a slave to Potiphar in Egypt, even when tempted and falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife.

“And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand” (Genesis 39:3-4).

Dear Young Christian:

Today when I opened my mail, there was a card with the following quote in one of the envelopes:

“Are you at this moment in any pressure, trial, need, or difficulty? If so, look simply and solely to the living God. Turn away your eyes completely from the creature. “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” (Isaiah 2:22). Let your faith take hold now on the strength of God Himself. Put your whole case in His omnipotent (all-powerful) hand. Cast your burden, whatever it is, upon Him. Let there be no reserve. He is as willing as He is able, and as able as He is willing, to bear all. Trust Him fully. He loves to be trusted, loves to be used.”

                                                                        C. H. Macintosh.

This card was a real encouragement to me, and I pass it along for your meditation and encouragement as you start out on another busy week of whatever you are doing, and wherever the Lord leads you. I would simply add, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Why He Came

We may well ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord Jesus become a Man and enter His creation by coming to planet earth?” Here are some of the answers to that question:

He came to do His Father’s will:

• “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7).

• “I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).

He came to save:

• “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

He came to impart life:

• “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

He came to give light to those who believe:

• “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

• “For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37).

This is “the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5), who we worship and praise today.

By Faith

According to a letter written by Martin Luther’s youngest son, Dr. Paul Luther, and preserved in the Library of Rudolstadt, Martin Luther (1483-1546) related to his family the story of his conversion. He acknowledged that it was while he was visiting in Rome that he came to the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.

As multitudes have done, Luther, then a young Saxon monk, troubled by conscience and heavily burdened with a load of sin, was ascending the Sancta Scala, or “holy stairs” (twenty-eight broad marble stairs, claimed to be the very steps Jesus walked on when sentenced by Pilate in Jerusalem) on his hands and knees, repeating his prayers on each step in hopes of receiving a blessing. In his zeal, he hoped to be rid of his burden and obtain the favor of God, when suddenly the words of the prophet Habakkuk came forcibly and incessantly to his mind and heart, “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

At once, he arose and, returning to Germany, took up this text as his motto for life and his preaching the truth of the gospel. How wonderful to realize that there is nothing we can to do save ourselves, and then to realize that everything has been done by the Lord on the Cross of Calvary.

Be Happy

This afternoon, my wife and I were visiting in a home in Belgium and, on the refrigerator in the kitchen, I noticed a large magnet with the following saying on it.

Be So Happy

That When Others

Look At You They

Become Happy Too!

It brought to mind the observation of the Queen of Sheba when she saw the servants of Solomon. “And she said to the king … Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:6, 8). There was something about the countenance of these servants that showed to all in the king’s court that they were happy in the service of their master.

This is the way it should be with everyone who is a child of God. Those around us ought to see the joy of the Lord and the happiness of Christianity radiate from our faces. Like Peter and John of whom it says, “they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Troubled

Centuries ago David wrote, “I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long … . I am feeble and sore broken … My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me” (Psalm 38:6, 8, 10).

Life is tough, and, as we get older, it doesn’t get any easier. Struggles and disappointments are very real, and life is not all sunny days and happy times.

Satan knows this, and there are a host of amusements and distractions that this godless world offers. These may provide momentary relief to a sad and troubled heart. Like a painkiller, it may give short and momentary relief. Solomon tried it all. He wrote, “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy” (Ecclesiastes 2:10). But he concluded, “All was vanity [emptiness]” (verse 11).

Nothing can satisfy or revive the soul like the presence of the Lord. He brings permanent peace, satisfaction and rest like nothing else can. He gives strength for the day and living water to the thirsty soul. He refreshes, revives and restores. Ask Him. He will do this for you today!

Our Home

While strolling through a store that sold unusual items to decorate your home my wife and I noticed a wall motto with the following declaration:

“Home Is Where The Anchor Drops”

This brought to mind the following verses:

“We might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus” (Hebrews 6:18-20).

For the believer, our home is in Heaven, and we have the assurance that we are going to arrive safely, because our Anchor, the Lord Jesus Christ is already there as our “Forerunner.” There is an old hymn we used to sing as young people, which began, “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through, My treasures laid up somewhere beyond the starry blue …”

The Lord Jesus, when on earth, said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Our true home is in Heaven where the Lord is waiting to welcome us.

Give Thanks

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Thank Him for all His love and care,
The wisdom of His ways.

In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Rejoice in Him forevermore,
Through bright and dismal days.

In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
No matter what the circumstance,
A cheerful anthem raise.

In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Now, in this life, as soon above,
When on His face we’ll gaze.